Today marks the start of West Coast National Park’s official Flower Season, which runs from 1 August to 30 September every year. During this time the Postberg section of the Park (which is closed to visitors throughout the rest of the year) is open to the public, who come in their thousands to see the veld covered in carpets of colour.

While the 1st of August heralds the start of Flower Season, the truly magnificent displays of colourful flowers are usually seen during September. This year however, due to early heavy rains, the flowers have already arrived. Nicole Biondi, Regional Marketing Manager for the SANParks Cape Region, offered the following advice to visitors, "The flowers are already covering the Postberg veld in vibrant yellows, whites, oranges and blues. Nature is mercurial and there is no guarantee that their current brilliance will last until the end of September, so come and visit as soon as you can."

Visitors to the Postberg section of the West Coast National Park are also likely to spot a variety of game including Bat-eared Foxes, Eland, Bontebok, Zebra, Gemsbok, Red Hartebees, Kudu and more. The Plankiesbaai and Uitkyk areas inside Postberg offer dedicated picnic areas and offer beautiful views. Geelbek Restaurant, just 10km from the West Coast Gate (on the R27), is open from 9am to 5pm and offers a delectable array of traditional food. During Flower Season food will be served deli-style and visitors are welcome to picnic on the vast lawns or sit at the tables inside or outside the beautifully restored Cape Dutch building.

For visitors wanting to overnight inside the Park, there are a number of accommodation choices including the cluster of 11 fully equipped self-catering Duinepos Chalets, 2 houseboats on the lagoon and two 6-sleeper cottages.

West Coast National Park is open daily from 07:00 to 18:00 (last vehicle entry at 17:30) and the Postberg section is open from 09:00 to 17:00 (last vehicle entry at 16:30). Entry fees are R44 for South Africans; R64 for SADC visitors and R88 for international visitors. Children up to the age of 12 pay half price.

Hello mites just want to share a few "mik and druk" piccies with you Its took less than an hour to travel to the park from our house,Weather purfectI think the piccies speak for themselves.The real Hugh and the lagoonThe lagoon and not a breath of windLots of flowers

I spent yesterday (Fri) in WCNP . The flowers were truly magnificent. The weather was the best that the West Coast could offer...sunny skies ,warm and no wind. Don't miss out on seeing this spectacular flower display.

We visited the WCNP yesterday and was quite surprised by the lots of flowers still left. It was a marvellous real summer day and the flowers just loved it!. Here are a few photos of what it still look like.

Judging by the length of the queue of cars at the main gate (when we arrived at 09H30 it was about 300m long and still the same when we left at 13H30), they must have had a record number of visitors.

Here on the West Coast spring was special this season gone by. As far as I can remember you have to go as far back as 2006 to equal this years spring. Here are some photos taken in WCNP, between beginning August and mid September.

Hi Arks, Yes it was an amazing Caracal sighting for us. Beginning August, on our way to Tzarsbank, 200m from the Churchhaven turnoff. A friend of ours who is in the area often, says its the place to look. On another thread I see O-dog also says thats where Caracal are to be seen. Unfortunately entry to Churchaven is prohibited, which is a pity really.